Landlord pleads guilty to fire safety breaches
The landlord of a north Yorkshire property has pleaded guilty to eight violations of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at Scarborough Magistrates Court.
Lazlo Banki appeared at the court after North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service discovered breaches including lack of an adequate means of escape, a fire alarm, a fire detection system or an emergency lighting system.
Scarborough Borough Council housing officers and the fire service inspected the property in March after a complaint and immediately decided to rehouse tenants and lodge legal proceedings due to the severity of the breaches.
“The fire service’s decision to prosecute was not taken lightly and this measure is only taken in the most serious cases,” prosecuting officer Karen Galloway commented.
“The contraventions in this case were serious and would have continued had the fire authority and Scarborough Borough Council not acted immediately by serving a prohibition notice on the Responsible Person.”
Mr Banki is no longer the owner of the property and the case has been committed to York Crown Court for sentencing next month.
